The History of the Buddhism
Buddhism was expounded by Syakyamuni, who appeared in India approximately 3000 years ago.
Syakyamuni was born as a prince in the Kapilavastu kingdom, located in southern Nepal.
He entered the priesthood at the age of 19 and attained Buddhahood when he was 30.
He propagated the Law for fifty years and entered nirvana at 80 year of age.
During the first 42years of his 50 years of preaching, he taught a provisional teaching designed to lead people to
Lotus Sutra.
During the last 8 years, he expounded the True Teaching of the Lotus Sutra. Hokke-Kyo.
【Episodes】
When Syakyamuni was a prince, he existed from the eastern gate of the kingdom to the surrounding, settlement and found a feeble, ugly man whose back was bent in half from old age.
When he went out the southern gate, he saw a sick person who was writhing in pain. Outside of the western gate, he encountered a funeral procession for someone who had died.
Through these encounters the prince sought to find a resolution to the sufferings of old age, sickness and death, which all human beings cannot escape.
Finally, when Syakyamuni went out through the northern gate, he met a religious ascetic (a priest), pure in body and mind, whose presence influenced him to embark upon a religious life at the age of 19.
Buddhism is a teaching that acknowledges the reality of birth old age, sickness and death and, from that stand point, reveals the resolution to these sufferings. Equally significant is the fact that the Buddha emerged as a person in society to expound the Law.